The Swedish national cross-country skiing team is facing a significant shake-up for the upcoming season, with Olympic champion Jonna Sundling, a decorated athlete who secured a gold and two silver medals at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in Italy, opting out of the national team’s structured training program. This decision, announced by the 31-year-old star on Instagram, marks a departure from the traditional team setup and signals a growing trend of elite athletes seeking personalized training environments. Sundling’s choice is particularly noteworthy as she prepares for the World Championships to be held on home snow in Falun.
Sundling’s announcement places her in a select group, being one of only two prominent athletes to decline a place within the national training squads. The other is junior sensation Alvar Myhlback, who will continue his development with the Lager 157 Ski Team. This exodus, coupled with other departures, has thinned the Swedish men’s elite squad to a mere five athletes for the 2026/2027 season. The situation reflects broader challenges and strategic re-evaluations within Swedish cross-country skiing, particularly following a mixed performance at the recent Olympics, which saw significant success for the women’s team but less so for the men, and subsequent organizational changes at the highest levels of the Swedish Ski Association.
A Strategic Shift Towards Personalized Training
In her statement, Sundling emphasized that her decision is driven by a desire to optimize her preparation for the upcoming season, with a particular focus on excelling at the World Championships in Falun. "My choice to stay outside the training group is simply about giving myself the best possible starting point to succeed in the coming season in general, and during the home World Championships in Falun in particular," she wrote on Instagram. This statement underscores a calculated approach to her career, prioritizing what she believes will yield the greatest performance benefits.
While Sundling expressed her positive experiences and relationships within the national team, she clarified that her decision is for the current season only. This suggests an openness to rejoining the national setup in the future, contingent on evolving circumstances and her own strategic needs. Her choice to forge her own path involves assembling a dedicated team of coaches she trusts implicitly. This private setup will include Magnus Ingesson and Stefan Thomson, a coach who recently departed the national team earlier this spring. Thomson confirmed his involvement, stating, "It is I and Magnus (Ingesson) who will be involved as coaches now." This collaboration with trusted figures indicates a desire for continuity and a training philosophy that aligns perfectly with Sundling’s individual requirements.
Sundling’s impressive Olympic performance in Italy, where she claimed gold in the sprint and two silver medals in the team sprint and skiathlon, cemented her status as a global skiing powerhouse. She further demonstrated her dominance by sweeping nearly all events at the Swedish National Championships shortly before Easter, capping off a stellar season. This consistent high-level performance provides a strong foundation for her individualized training strategy.
Broader Team Dynamics and Departures
The decision by Sundling and Myhlback to pursue separate training paths is part of a larger narrative of change within the Swedish cross-country skiing program. The men’s elite squad has been particularly affected, with three skiers being dropped from the program and one choosing to retire. This has resulted in the aforementioned slimmed-down roster of five athletes.
Recent weeks have seen significant announcements regarding athlete futures. Jens Burman, a prominent figure in the men’s team, recently declared his competitive career at the World Cup level concluded after a challenging season. Adding to the roster changes, another Olympic athlete, whose name has not been explicitly stated in this context but is described as an "Olympic profile," has announced his retirement. This decision reportedly came a week after he learned he would not retain his place on the national team. This sequence of events highlights the intense pressure and competitive landscape within elite international skiing, where performance dictates opportunities.
With these departures, only three skiers from the previous year’s program remain. The incoming talent to bolster the men’s elite team includes Anton Grahn and Truls Gisselman, signaling a blend of experience and new blood. The overall composition of the team suggests a period of rebuilding and strategic adaptation for Swedish men’s cross-country skiing.
Norwegian Coaching Talent Joins the Swedish Fold
In a notable development that occurred shortly before the national team’s presentation, the Swedish Ski Association announced the formal addition of Norwegian gold-medal winning coach Egil Kristiansen to their coaching staff. Kristiansen’s move to Sweden was inadvertently revealed earlier in the week when the Swedish Ski Association mistakenly published a photo featuring him in Swedish national team attire.
Kristiansen’s appointment comes after his unexpected omission from the Norwegian biathlon national team. He will now assume responsibility for the Swedish men’s elite cross-country skiing team, working alongside Lars Ljung, who remains with the program. This recruitment of a highly regarded Norwegian coach underscores Sweden’s commitment to leveraging international expertise to elevate their performance. The Norwegian cross-country skiing program has long been a benchmark for success, and Kristiansen’s experience, particularly his success in biathlon, is expected to bring fresh perspectives and strategic advantages to the Swedish team.
The period following the Beijing Olympics has been marked by considerable dissatisfaction within the Swedish national team, particularly concerning the men’s team’s performance, which was described as their worst in decades, contrasted with the exceptional success of the women’s team. This disparity in results led to widespread discontent, culminating in the resignation of national team director Anders Byström, whose contract was still valid for another year. Furthermore, several athletes had voiced demands for changes within the coaching staff, indicating a desire for a revamped approach and improved support structures. The hiring of Kristiansen and the restructuring of the coaching teams can be seen as direct responses to these criticisms and a proactive effort to address the team’s challenges.
Analysis of Implications
Jonna Sundling’s decision to form a private training group, while seemingly a personal choice, has broader implications for national team structures. It raises questions about the effectiveness and flexibility of centralized national team programs in meeting the diverse needs of elite athletes. For athletes like Sundling, who have already achieved significant success and possess a clear understanding of their training requirements, a personalized approach can offer greater control over their development, allowing for finer adjustments to training loads, recovery protocols, and competition schedules.
This trend also presents a challenge for national federations. While they aim to provide comprehensive support and foster team cohesion, they must also acknowledge the increasing agency of top athletes. The success of Sundling’s private venture could inspire other elite athletes to follow suit, potentially leading to a fragmentation of national team resources and expertise. However, it also pushes national federations to innovate and perhaps offer more tailored support within the national framework to retain their star athletes.
The thinning of the Swedish men’s elite squad highlights the intense competition and the challenges of sustained success in cross-country skiing. The sport demands immense dedication, rigorous training, and significant investment from athletes and federations alike. The departures and the recruitment of new talent signal a strategic pivot, aiming to revitalize the men’s program and build a competitive team for future major events, including the next World Championships.
The addition of Egil Kristiansen is a significant coup for Swedish skiing. His track record of success, particularly in developing athletes to peak performance at major championships, is invaluable. His integration into the coaching staff, especially with the men’s elite team, is a clear indication of Sweden’s ambition to improve its standing in international men’s cross-country skiing. His experience with Norwegian training methodologies, known for their scientific rigor and athlete-centric approach, could prove instrumental.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Falun and Beyond
The 2027 World Championships in Falun represent a pivotal moment for Swedish cross-country skiing. With the national team undergoing significant changes, the focus will be on how effectively these new structures and coaching combinations can translate into on-course success. Jonna Sundling’s personal journey, pursuing excellence outside the traditional team structure, will be closely watched, as will the performance of the restructured national squads.
The Swedish Ski Association’s ability to manage these transitions, balance the needs of individual stars with the collective goals of the team, and integrate new talent will be crucial. The recent history of mixed results and internal dissatisfaction suggests that a period of adjustment and rebuilding is underway. The strategic decisions made now, from athlete support to coaching appointments, will shape the future of Swedish cross-country skiing for years to come. The inclusion of the Norwegian national team selections for 2026-27, such as Heidi Weng’s continued participation, provides a benchmark and context for the competitive landscape in which Sweden is operating.
Swedish Cross-Country Skiing National Teams 2026/2027:
Women’s Elite Squad:
- Ebba Andersson
- Frida Karlsson
- Emma Ribom
- Johanna Hagström
- Maja Dahlqvist
- Linn Svahn
- Moa Lundgren
- Moa Ilar
Women’s Elite Coaching Team:
- Ida Ingemarsdotter
- Johan Granath
Men’s Elite Squad:
- Edvin Anger
- Gustaf Berglund
- Truls Gisselman
- Anton Grahn
- William Poromaa
The sport continues to evolve, with athletes seeking personalized paths to peak performance and national federations adapting to these trends while striving for collective success. The coming season promises to be a dynamic period for Swedish cross-country skiing, marked by both individual ambition and collective endeavor.
